The final round of the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon is underway, with the contenders taking to the course this afternoon. The Golfing Gazette gives you five storylines to look out for.
This year’s Open has been excellent so far, with tough conditions pushing the best players in the world to their limits.
The likes of Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau and Tiger Woods were not up to the challenge and missed the cut.
However, there are still plenty of high-profile names at the top of Sunday’s leaderboard, as well as some players who have never been in this position before.
With 24 players within six shots of the lead, there are numerous storylines that could unfold when the contenders go into battle later on. The Golfing Gazette picks out five of the best for you to follow.
- READ MORE: Royal Troon Golf Club: A look at the Open 2024 host, home to the iconic ‘Postage Stamp’ hole
The best storylines to follow on day four of The Open 2024
Will Billy Horschel hold on to win?
Billy Horschel (-4) has been one of the top players on the PGA Tour for a while now but has never won a major. The closest he has come to doing so was a fourth-place finish at the US Open 11 years ago. He has never cracked the top 20 at The Open – which seems inevitable this time – so he has already had a week to be proud of. However, the American will be determined to go all the way and he would be a popular winner at Royal Troon.
Thriston Lawrence hopes to become South Africa’s next major champion
Some of the greatest golfers ever have come from South Africa – Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Ernie Els – but they have not had a major winner since Els won The Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in 2012. Well, Thriston Lawrence (-3) shot a six-under 65 on Saturday to put himself into contention and has the advantageous position of playing alongside the overnight leader (Horschel) on Sunday afternoon.
Can Justin Rose win second major 11 years on?
Justin Rose (-3) is a former world number one, US Open winner and gold medallist. However, one could argue that a player of his calibre should have won more throughout his career. An Open victory at the age of 43, having had to qualify for the event three weeks ago, would virtually erase that narrative. There are few more likeable characters on the PGA Tour so expect him to have the spectators on his side.
- READ MORE: Henrik Stenson vs Phil Mickelson: The story of The Open 2016 as Royal Troon plays host again
Could Daniel Brown pull off a miracle?
Daniel Brown (-3) was one of the unlikeliest winners of The Open before play got underway on Thursday morning but that has all changed. The Englishman has shown remarkable composure given that this is his major championship debut. The brutal conditions have not fazed him, either, as he is just one shot off the lead heading into the final round. The odds were certainly against him but there is now no reason why he could not be the next recipient of the iconic Claret Jug.
Scottie Scheffler looking to match Tiger Woods’ 2000 season
Scottie Scheffler (-2) is the best golfer on the planet and has proven it many times over the course of the 2024 season. He has won six tournaments this year, including The Masters and the Players Championship, and has been compared to none other than Tiger Woods as a result. Woods’ 2000 season, where he won nine events, is widely regarded as the best in the history of the sport but an Open win for Scheffler would suddenly turn that into a debate worth having.
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